Slide fastener machine



March 24, 1953 A. SONNTAG 2,632,344

SLIDE FASTENER MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet l I II 134 v INVENTOR. 17 ALFRED SONNTAG A TTORNEY March 24, 1953 A. SONNTAG 2,632,344

SLIDE FASTENER MACHINE Filed-Aug. 13, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 17 INVENTOR. ALFRED SON N'TAG ATT RNEY March 24, 1953 so T 7 2,632,344

SLIDE FASTENER MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1948' 6 Sheets-Sheet s 43 H se INVENTOR. ALFRED SONNTAG ATTORNEY A. SONNTAG SLIDE FASTENER MACHINE March 241-, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 13, 1948 INVENTOR. ALFRED SONNTAG Q6 4 TTORNEY March 24, 1953' A. SONNTAG 2,632,344

SLIDE' FASTENER MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ALFRED SON NTAG BYfd A. SONNTAG SLIDE FASTENER MACHINE March 24, 1953 Filed Aug. 13. 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. ALFRED SON NTAG wow wow

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLIDE FAS-TENER MACHINE Alfred Sonntag, Greenwich, Conn., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Talon, Inc., a, corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 13, 1948, Serial No. 43,972

11 Claims.

. at high speed with a minimum of friction and of wearing parts.

In Patent No. 2,437,793, there is described a machine of this character, having a reciprocating head and a foundation block, which two parts carry punches and dies for forming and severing fastener elements and also serve to operate closing members for securing the fastener elements on to a stringer-tape, the reciprocating head being mounted in a slide and actuated by an eccentric drive. Any machine in which a reciprocable head is guided in a slide is liable to considerable friction and wear, both of which are accentuated under high speed operation.

In the manufacture of sliding clasp fasteners, not only does the head have to be reciprocated at very high speed for long periods of time but the very highest accuracy of movement is essential, on account of the smallness of the parts, and any play which may develop, even as little as ,3 0 of an inch, is highly objectionable; indeed, the ordinary limit of accuracy in the manufacture of these parts is less than of an inch.

The present invention comprises, in a machine for forming sliding clasp fastener parts, the employment of fiexplates for transmitting forces,

taking the place of the customary linkages and cranks for use in such transmission of power to the movably-mounted parts of the machine. In particular, the invention contemplates the employment of means, such as flexplates, for imparting the necessary power to a reciprocating fastener-forming head, wherein the direction of movement of the power-transmitting means is such as to reduce and even eliminate much of the lateral thrust derived from links and cranks.

In one important aspect, the invention comprises, in a machine particularly shown for forming sliding clasp fastener elements from strip material, but capable of use in other associations, a construction which includes a support, a reciprocable head and a foundation block (which latter two parts carry punches and dies for forming and severing fastener elements), flexplates which extend from the support to the head, with the flats of the flexplates in parallel planes, so that they guide the head and hold it against canting forces, and means for reciprocating the head.

Flexplates may be bars of spring material -which usually are flat, or flattened along a portion of their length. This feature, however, is to introduce the factor that, at a portion of the member, the cross-section is reduced and so formed that, when placed in compression, it will flex. Thus, in the conversion of rotary to re- 4 ciprocatory motion, where the reciprocatory motion is of slight degree, cams or eccentrics, the usual media of transmission may be substantially eliminated.

These flexplates are constructed to be springy, but to remain stiff enough to enable them to take a substantial end load without buckling. The flexplates are normally made of a single piece of material. The may be made otherwise, as, for

instance, like a laminated spring. The effect of employing flexplates in a manner described is that they not only permit movement of the head Work, but also, owing to the flats of the flexplates being located in different parallel planes, the head is held against canting forces, which is an essential for the purpose in View.

While the construction of the ram, and the associated dies and feeding mechanism for the strip and for securing the fastener elements to the stringer-tape, such as are described in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,437,793, are indicated as a part of this apparatus, according to the present invention, it is to be understood that alternative forms of punches and dies and feeding mechanism can be employed without departing from the present invention.

Preferably, the fiexplates, as viewed in a direc-- tion at right-angles to the planes of their flats, are arranged to form a triangulated structure; thereby the rigidity of the support of the head against lateral forces is increased.

It is a further feature of the present invention that the means for reciprocating the head should include a driving member for lifting the head that when the machine is stopped it can readily be swung out of the way. This permits very convenient access to the foundation block for the purpose of renewing or adjusting the punches and dies carried by the head and the block;

The following is a description by way of example of one construction of a machine in accordance with the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of the machine;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a section of a part of the mechanism upon the line 33 of Figure 2, lookin in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a plan;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4, and

Figure 6. is a view" of an assembly frame forming part of the machine.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, upon a horizontal steel baseplate ll there are secured two channelshaped uprights I2, 13, which are disposed with their flanges facing one another and are united at the top by a heavy steel block [4, which constitutes a foundation block forpunch and die" elements. The steel baseplate H is approximately' square in plan, and is suspended at the four corners on bolts [5 which extend upwardly from it through bracket arms Hi overhanging the baseplate. withfloorplates l1, and above the bracket arms around the bolts are supporting springs It on the u per ends of which bear cup washers i9 threaded on the bolts and limited by nuts 20.

Thus the foundation plate is suspended on springs at each cornenand the springs are made strong enough to'support the weight of the parts. They afford a flexible connection which tends to absorb vibrations which would otherwise be transmitted to'the floor on which the machine stands:

On the baseplate there is mounted a driving motor 2|, and beneath the'foundation block N there are secured, on the opposite side of the 7 standards from that on which the driving motor is located, two ball bearings 22, 23 for a driving Above the eccentric straps 32, 33 the founda-' tion block is drilled through at 34, 35 and two flex-plates 36, 31 having screwed ends 38, 39 are screwed into the two eccentric straps and pass upwardly through the drilled holes 34, 35 in the foundation block. The fiexplates are machined to provide flattened portions 40, 4| which are sufficiently springy to allow the lateral movement 5 called for by the eccentricity of the eccentric portions 23, 29 onwhich the ball races are mounted,

the flattened portions moving within the store The bracket arms are cast in one piecesaid drilled holes. Above the foundation block the flexplates carry shanks which pass upwardly through a reciprocable head 64. Spacer washers t5, at around the shanks abut against the underside of members 55, 56 hereinafter described which bear against the underside of the head 14, and above the head there are other members 53,

54' and washers 4f, 48 which are held down by 36, 31 are not subject to any bending stress. The

stresses produced in the flexplates as the parts move tomid-stroke will, therefore, be equal in each direction of bending.

The reciprocable head at is supported so as to move parallel to itself in an up-and-down' direction by means of'four flexplates which extend from it horizontally. Two of these flexplates 53, 5'4 are" secured rigidly to the upper face of the reciprocable head by the nuts 50 on the shanks 42, 43 as already described, and two flexplates 55, 56 are secured to the lower face. They extend rearw'ardly from the head M into engagement with an anchoring block 51 fixed to the back edge of the foundation block M. The anchoring block 51 is held down by bolts 53, 59. The upper two flexplates 53, 54 extend parallel to one another,

so that the anchoring block 57, the two fiexplates 53, Hand the reciprocating head 44 as viewed in plan form a rectangle. At the ends of the anchoring block, steps are cut out of the metal of the block so as to provide horizontal surfaces at a lower level than those to which the upper fiexplates are secured, the difference in level corresponding to the thickness of the recip'rocable head 44. The lower flexplates 55, 56 extend horiaontally from, the head to the upperside of the steps out in theanchoring block 51. In order toen'gage these steps, the lower flexplates 55, 56 are splayed so that they form, in conjunction with the upper fiexplates, as" viewed in plan, a

triangulated structure (see Figure 4). As viewed in side elevation, the upper and lower flexplates are, however, in paral el planes (see Figure 2).

The fiexplates which support the reciprocable head may be machined from fiat bar which is fairly stoutin thickness, so as not to be liable to buckle under endwise pressure, but is made thinner for a short'distance near its fixing bolts at each end, as at Si, 62, Figure 2 to provide two thin portions which are springy to a sufficient extent to permit the head to be reciprocated up and down by the eccentrics without inducing fatigue stresses in the fiexplates.

The iiexplates are made of a low-carbon machinable steel, and they do not require to be temperedif they are of suitable dimensions.

Each of the eccentric straps 32, 33 has an eye GB'or 69 below it, and a hooked rod it or H is engaged with the eye and depends vertically into hooked engagement with the upper end of a strong retaining spring 12 or 73, as the case may be. The other end of each spring is engaged with an eyebolt 74 or 75 in the baseplate 5! of the machine, and the tension of the spring can be adjusted by means of nuts 16, T! on the'scrcwed shank of the eyebolt. The lower ends of the eccentric portion of the shaft.

hooked rods I0, II which are engaged with the springs have weights 18, I9 of suitable amount secured thereto. It will be noted that the effect of these springs is to draw the eccentric straps downwardly, and if the springs are made strong enough, this downward force will exceed the upward force which is applied to the underside of the reciprocating head when the tools upon it make impact upon the fastener elements in the operation of the machine, the result being that the direction of the force applied to the eccentric straps and the ball races by the eccentric .portions of the shaft is always upwards, the

eccentric strapalways bearing at the top on the ball race which in turn bears on the top of the Thus even the extremely small play or lost motion which may be present in the ball races is counteracted from affecting the movement of the reciprocable head 44. The effect of the weights I8, I9, on the rods above the springs, if the amount of the weights is properly adjusted relatively to the stiffness of the springs and the speed of operation, is to assist in ensuring this result. The natural period of vibration of the weight and spring must be made not to coincide with the rate of reciprocation of the head.

Upon one side of the foundation block I4 (Fig. 4) is mounted a bracket 80 which supports a ball bearing 8| for a horizontal strip-feed shaft 82. The strip-feed shaft 82 extends across the block I4 behind the reciprocating head 44 and beneath the fiexplates 54, 56 which support the head, the axis of the strip-feed shaft being about level with the upper surface of the block I4, which is machined out to receive it. In the center and extending to the rear of the block I4 is a large rectangular opening 83 which is spanned by the strip-feed shaft 82. Here the shaft is supported by two further ball bearings 84, 85 (Figure 6) on a suitable assembly frame 06 inserted into the opening and secured by screws 9|, 92.

Between these ball bearings the strip-feed shaft carries serrated feed rolls 81, 88 (Figures 5 and 6) and the strip material 89, 90 which is to be formed into fasteners passes over these feed rolls. Secured to the feed rolls are toothed pinions 93, 94, and above the strip-feed shaft 32, and parallel to it, there is a non-rotatable spindle 95 on the assembly frame which supports further feed rolls 9?, 98 carrying pinions 99, I00 which mesh with the pinions 93, 94 on the strip-feed shaft 82. The feed rolls and pinions on the nonrotatable spindle are supported thereon by needle roller bearings IOI, and the non-rotatable shaft is pressed firmly down towards the feed shaft by means of two strong springs I02, I03 which bear upon it and are located beneath yokes I04 stopped against nuts on studs I05, I06 on each side of the shaft.

In this way the upper feed rolls are pressed strongly against the upper surface of strip material being fed, and they are also driven, through the pinions 99, I00, in timed relation to the lower feed rolls 8?, 99. This is necessary in order to ensure a non-slip drive. The teeth of the pinions 93, 94 and 99, I00 are made sufficiently deep to permit of a slight up-and-down movement of spindle 95 against the springs I02, I03 without becoming unmeshed.

It is also necessary that the non-rotatable spindle 95 which carries the upper feed rolls should be prevented from any movement in a horizontal direction, although up-and-down to block I40 hereinafter described.

movement against the springs is permitted. To this end, two flexplates I01, I08 are securedto the spindle 95 at its ends, and they extend horizontally to an anchoring platform I09, lying to the rear of the non-rotatable spindle and secured to the assembly frame 86. This obviates the need which would otherwise exist for guides, and also eliminates the friction associated with such guides. In order to relieve the pressure of the feed rolls when fresh strip is being fed into the machine, two cam levers IIO, III are mounted on the non-rotatable spindle 95 adjacent to the springs I02, I03. When these levers are moved from normal position, they cam and lift the spindle. When the strip has been inserted, the levers can be returned to their initial position; pressure then is put on the strip in readiness to feed it forward.

The assembly of roller bearings I01 with the upper feed rollers, non-rotatable spindle 95, fiexplates I M and I08, and supporting platform I09 therefor, and springs I02, I03, to urge the non-rotatable spindle downwardly, is conveniently mounted on the assembly frame 86, as a unit assembled on a plate I I2 removable from the assembly frame, and so can be separately adjusted or renewed when worn.

On that end of the main driving shaft. 24 of the machine which lies on the same side of the foundation block I4 as the aforesaid bracket which supports the end bearing of the strip-feed spindle 82, there is located a ball bearing eccentric I20 surrounded by a strap I2I which is formed in one piece with an eccentric rod I22 carrying a pawl I23. The eccentric rod I22 extends diagonally upwardly and rearwardly from the driving shaft into a position where the pawl I23 is to the rear of, and is slightly underneath, the strip-feed shaft 82. Here the strip-feed shaft carries a ratchet wheel I24 for engagement with the pawl I23. The eccentric rod I22 is prolonged beyond the pawl and enters a fork on the end of a control rod I25, endwise movement of which will serve to pull the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel or, if in the other direction, to push it back into engagement. A spring I26 surrounds the control rod I25 and acts to maintain the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel. A brake-collar I 21 is mounted on the strip-feed shaft 82 adjacent to the ratchet wheel I24, and a steel brake-block is urged against the underside of collar I27 by a strong spring to prevent reverse rotation. The brake-block slides in bracket 00 and is therefore hidden from view in the drawings but is simila The control rod I25 is urged by spring I26 in the direction to bring about engagement of the pawl with the ratchet wheel, but is secured to the core of a solenoid I30. When the solenoid is energized, the pawl is drawn out of engagement, and feed of the metal fastener strips 89, ceases.

Above the foundation block I4, and to one side of the reciprocating head 44, on the lefthand side of the machine as viewed from the front, there is secured a base I3I of a stringer-tape feed-bracket I32. The base I3I is secured in place near the edge of the foundation block I4 by a screw I33 which passes through the foundation block from below and which acts as a pivot. It is secured also by a second screw I34 entered from above, and when the second screw is tightened up the bracket is in its working position. If the second screw I34 is undone,

.however, the bracket can be swung out ofthe way, using the firs't screw as aipiv'ot', to. afford the end of the feed shaftwhich projects-beyond the base. The ratchet wheel is operated by'an eccentric strap I38 onthe drivingsh aft of the machine, which eccentric strap is formed-in one piece -with an eccentric rod I39carryi'ng a pawl I M for engagement withv the ratchet wheel. This pawl andthe strap, and a friction brake I40 on the stringer t'ape feed-shaft, are similar to the pawl, strap and brake forop'erating the strip-feed shaft 82', with the exception that no means is provided for rendering the pawl inoperative during operation of the machine. The brake-block I40 has *astem I42 which passes freely through the't'o'p'of bracket I32 and carries a nut I43. S'urrounding the stein; within the bracket I32 is a strong spring which applies brake pressure but thenut permits brake pressure to -be relieved when necessary.

Upon the stringer-tape'feed-shaft -36, beneath the armof the bracket I32 which supports thereare secured two knurled feedwheels I34;

[-45 around which stringer-tapes can be led, and friction with which causes the tapes to be drawn upwardly through the machine; past the foundation block I4 and the reciprocable head 44. Guides I46 are provided for the'tapes below'the foundation block l4, and in the head are further guides I4! in addition'to' the feed wheels I45 on the feed shaft. Abo've'the knurled feed wheels" I &5 thereare spring-pressedfriction blocks I4'8'-- which press the tape down on tothe feed'wheels. Each of the friction blocks M8 has a'rod' I-Q-which passes upwardly. through the arm of the bracket and is connected above the bracket'amr with a carnlevenl'iifi; A'spring ISI surrounds the shank of each bracket and'ur'ge's.

it downwardly into engagement with the" tape, but operation of either of the" cam" levers will enable the corresponding friction block I48 to be-lifted against the action of the'spring; When the operator is threading up stringer-tapes through the machine, he 'lifts thelfrictionblbcks by means or thecam levers; to permit to position the tapes readily" around theknurled wheels; When they have been positioned, the cam levers are thrown over to enable the.friction blocks to engage the knurled feed wheels I44, IJSLand'thereafter, providedthe fastener strips 89,...90are inpositionbetween the pairs of i fastener-strip feed-'wheels 81,, 91 and- 88; S8, the-operationof the machinecan begin.

The reciprocable headand the-foundation blockmay .be and preferably are constructed-in the manner of, and so that: they may receive punches: and dies such as arewd'escribed: in, the aforesaid Patent No. 2,437,793,.- and,:.for certain combinations herein, 'are considered' to be 'construct'edi in accordance with'that disclosure;

Two" sets of punches" and dies- 'are provi'ded to cor-respond to the-two "s'tringe'r taipes and two fastenenstrips ms91!,wh1dnthe macnme isable 8 to feedsimultaneously. The punchesiand dies may be such asitdcut asm-all notch in each. side of the stripzwhensevering fasteners, ifdesired. In' this casethe punches are providedwith flutes which constitute-air" passages, and the dieshave lateral openings for the ejection of scrap. The ai r'iblast ismadestrong enough so that air passing. along the. flutes will blow out scrap through. the lateral openings; Scrapi delivery -tubes= a;re in this case secured td'th'e outlets of the ejectionopenings" and serveto convey the scrap to asuitable receptacle"placed on the base.

Even if the fastener elements' are not. to be notched, the air blast may be useful in keeping the tools cool.

Thus the machihe will secure the fastener elements to two' stringer-tapes simultaneously, feeding them upwardly. through the" machine. When apredetermined number of fastener elements have been secured to a: stringer-tape for a'determ'ined lengthfor a-sliding clasp fastener, the further feed ot'fasten er strip is interrupted by energization of the solenoid, while feed of the stringer-tape is allowed to continue. This results in a length of t'apedevoid' of fastener elements. When the solenoid is 'released,@.a further series of fastener elements is secured to the tape. Thus lengths of tape 1 complete with fastener elements alternate with short blank lengths which constitutethe ends of the tapes in completed slidin'g clasp" fasteners.

In order to operate-the solenoid correctly, a contact (not shown) may be provided on the end of the stringer-tapefeed shaft 82,101 some other part of the machine which contact 7 is actuated at intervals-which can be accurately set. The contact canbe made to operate a counting apparatus,- for example; one of the known electronic counter-s, so tha't' the solenoid will be caused to be energized onlyafter a specificnumber of fastener elements hasbeen secured to the tape.

It will be observed that in the -machine described, all the parts which have'to' execute a linear movement. and which would normally be constrained by" guides, are: supported by flexplates so that the friction involved inthe use of guides is done-away with. Although theinvention has-been-described in connection with the employment of a machine in which fastener elements are produced'by punches from flat strip, it is tobeunderstood that the invention could he used on machines of other known types, such as the known machines for producing fastener elements'by' shearing them, a plane parallel to the interengaging faces of' the elements, from preformed wire; Also the apparatus is capable of uses-,both in the field of'slide fastener manufacture and otherwise outside of the process ofform'ingandattaching slidefastener elements to tape.

What is claimed as newand'usefulisz 1. In'press construction, a base, a ram, complementary means on thebase and the'ram-for working metalpresented between the-rarn'and the" base, resilient meansfor supporting and retaining the-rain for reciprocable' movement in relation to the base along afixed substantially rectilinear path; a'r'otata-ble=-shaft; and means '-for"transmitting mction from the shaft to the ram against the action of-said last mentioned means, the mo-tion-transrnitting means including an eccentric connection to the shaft, amember rigidly secured-te tes ram and the-eccentric (Joli-119917101111" an i fi g means for loading the eccentric connection so that it will apply stress to the shaft constantly in the same direction.

2. In press construction, a base, a ram, complementary means on the base and the ram for working metal presented between the ram and the base, resilient means for supporting and retaining the ram for reciprocable movement in relation to the base along a fixed substantially rectilinear path, a rotatable shaft, and means for transmitting motion from the shaft to the ram against the action of said last mentioned means, the motion-transmitting means including an eccentric connection to the shaft, a member rigidly secured to the ram and the eccentric connection, and spring means for forcing the eccentric connection against the eccentric constantly in the same direction.

3. In a press construction, a base, a head movable relative to said base, complementary means carried by the base and. the head for working material presented therebetween, a plurality of substantially parallel cantilever-like elongated bar-like members having resilient characteristics and having one end thereof rigidly affixed to said base, said head mounted on the opposite free end of said bar-like members and adapted for limited movement in relation to the base along a fixed substantially rectilinear path substantially perpendicular to said bar-like members, and means for effecting reciprocating movement of said head relative to said base against the action of said bar-like members.

4. In a press construction, a base, a head movable relative to said base, complementary means carried by the base and the head for working material presented therebetween, a plurality of substantially parallel cantilever-like elongated bar-like members having resilient characteristics and having one end thereof rigidly affixed to said base, said head mounted on the opposite free end of said bar-like members and adapted for limited movement in relation to the base along a fixed substantially rectilinear path substantially perpendicular to said bar-like members, a rotatable shaft, and means for transmitting motion from the shaft to the head including an eccentric connection arranged with the shaft, and a flexible member connecting said head with said eccentric connection whereby said eccentric connection is adapted to move laterally relative to the connection of said flexible member with said head.

5. In a press construction, a base, a head movable relative to said base, complementary means carried by the base and the head for Working material presented therebetween, a plurality of substantially parallel cantilever-like elongated bar-like members having resilient characteristics and having one end thereof rigidly afiixed to said base, said head mounted on the opposite free end of said bar-like members and adapted for limited movement in relation to the base along a fixed substantially rectilinear path substantially perpendicular to said bar-like members, a rotatable shaft, at least two connecting rods with each having one end rigidly connected to said head and the opposite end connected to an eccentric connection arranged with said shaft, each of said connecting rods characterized in that they have limited flexure.

6. In a press construction, a base, a head movable relative to said base, complementary means carried by the base and the head for working material presented therebetween, a plurality of substantially parallel cantilever-like V 10; elongated bar-like members having resilient characteristics and having one end thereof rigidly affixed to said base, said head mounted on the opposite free end of said bar-like members and adapted for limited movement in relation to the base along a fixed substantially rectilinear path substantially perpendicular to said bar-like members, a rotatable shaft, means forv transmitting motion from the shaft to the head including an eccentric connection arranged with the shaft, a member rigidly secured to the head and the eccentric connection and characterized in that it has limited flexure, and spring means for forcing the eccentric of the eccentric connection constantly in the same direction.

7. In a press construction, a base, a ram, complementary means on the base and ram for working metal presented between the ram and the base, resilient means for supporting said ram for reciprocable movement in substantially a fixed rectilinear path relative to said base, a rotatable shaft, means for transmitting motion from the shaft to said ram against the action of said supporting means, the motion-transmitting means including an eccentric portion carried by said shaft, an eccentric strap disposed around said eccentric portion, a member rigidly secured to the ram and said eccentric strap, and spring means for pulling the eccentric strap against said eccentric portion of said shaft constantly in the same direction.

8. In a press construction, the combination defined in claim '7, whereas the means supporting the ram for reciprocable movement in substantially a fixed rectilinear path relative to the base, includes a plurality of bar-like members having resilient characteristics with one end of each of-said bar-like members rigidly secured to said base with the ram secured to the opposite free ends thereof.

9. In a press construction, a base, a reciprocable head, complementary material-working members carried by the base and head for forming material presented therebetween, a plurality of elongated bar-like members, one end of each of said bar-like members securely affixed to said base with said head being supported and suspended from the opposite free end of said members free of any guideways, a rotatable shaft positioned opposite said head, means for transmitting motion from said shaft to said head against the action of said bar-like members along a fixed substantially rectilinear path, the motion-transmitting means including an eccentric portion carried by said shaft, an eccentric strap disposed around said eccentric portion, a connecting rod having one end secured to said head and the opposite end to said eccentric strap, and spring means for loading the eccentric strap so that it will bear upon the eccentric portion constantly in the same direction.

10. In a press construction, the combination as defined in claim 9, wherein the connecting rod has an intermediate flexible portion whereby that end of the rod connected to the eccentric strap is adapted to move laterally when the shaft is rotated relative to the opposite end of said rod which is securely connected to the head.

11. In a press construction, a base, a head movable relative to said base, the base and head having complementary metal working members carried thereby, elongated means having resilient characteristics for supporting the head free of any guideways in a suspended position for reciprocable movement relative to said base in sub- 11 stantially a Jfixed rectilinear path meansscon nected to said head for producing limited [movement of said headvrelative to said-baseagainst the action of said resilient means, :.a rotatable shaft, an eccentric connection onsaid shaft, a connecting rod extending between and'vsecured to saidhead and said'eccentric connection, and spring means for loading the eccentric connection ;so that it .will apply stress to the shaft constantly in the same direction.

SQNNTAG, ALFRED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references :areof recordin the file of this patent:

Number 12 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name 7 Date Hammond Sept. 22,1885 Harvey Mar..11, 1890 OBrien Mar. 21, 1-893 Crosby Nov.,30, .1897 Bruch July 12,1898 Meier Dec. 27,1938 Dickerman .J an. 30, 1940 Wettlaufer et a1. Mar. 3, 1942 Leslie v Aug. 18, 1942 Weenen et a1. Mar. 2,..1948 Silberman. Mar. 16, 1948 

